Jay-Z's fashion label Rocawear laid off over half its staff

As Jay-Z and wife Beyonce Knowles celebrated the birth of their daughter, Blue Ivy, on January 7, just half the staff at the former 'apple of his eye', clothing line Rocawear, were returning to work after a series of lay-offs.

According to documents filed at the New York Department of Labor, 28 of the 56 workers at the fashion label were let go on January 6.

Cuts were made to the men and boys' division of the hip hop apparel line that the star and his partner, Damon Dash, founded in 1999, citing 'economic reasons' as the cause. But Jay Z sold the Rocawear label in 2007 to Iconix Group, a company owned by Real Housewife of New Jersey, Jacqueline Laurita. And though Jay-Z retained an interest in the brand, his contractual obligations have expired and he no longer needs or wishes to promote it.